Safety lock end connection



Aug. 5, 1941. s. o.` MYRBERG SAFETY LOCK END CONNECTION Filed April 30, 1940 f/M/flcff Patente-d Aug. 5, 1941 SAFETY Loon END CONNECTION Sven O. Myx-berg, Providence, R. I., assignor to Providence Stock Company, a corporation of RhodeV Island 'lipplication April 39, 1940, Serial No. 332,434

I7 claims. v (el. :i4-265') My present invention relates to end connections, and has particular reference to end connections for cord bracelets such as wrist watch straps.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide an end connection for releasably receiving the ends of a cord bracelet.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an end connection which securely locks a bracelet end, and which cannot be accidently or inadvertently released.

It is an additional object of my invention to form an end connection from stamped metal parts, whereby'the cost of manufacture is greatly lowered.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following,

in conjunctionwitlfi the accompanying drawing, i'

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a modified form I showing the top thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the bottom thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the wrist watch strap has the usual two sections I9, II whichl are connected to the wrist watch, not shown, at one end, and have end connections l2, I3, detachably secured to the other end, which are locked to an extension device or center catch I4 of standard type.

The end connections are preferably similar in construction, and include a housing I5, see Fig. 4, preferably stamped of sheet metal, having a base I6 which is equipped with an upstanding integral prong I1, and sides I3 with inturned integral f lugs I9, a lock top 20 being formed with pivot pins 2| which pivotally seat in openings 22 at the lower portions of the sides I8 and integral prongs 23 which cooperate with the prong I1.

The back edge of the top is formed as a cam edge 22a for engaging the loose ends of a strap section, whereby the length of the strap section may be adjusted, the two ends being gripped by the prongs |1 and 23 at one end, and by the cam edge 22a at the other end; the top is reduced in width from the free end to the pivot 2|, as indicated at 24, to freely pass the lugs I9 and to allow sufcient room between the side I8 for the edge of the sliding plate 26, see Fig. 3, and is provided with a finger tab 25 for facilitating lifting.

A separate plate 264 has a plurality of ngers 21see Fig. 4, bent over to engage the lower surface of the top, whereby it is slidable Aover the top; the plate 26 has two raised portions 28 with a slot 29 therebetween, to facilitate insertion of a nger nail between the raised portions for sliding the plate in either direction, the sides of the plate passing under the lugs I9 when in locking position to be retained thereunder. A raised button 39, see Fig. 2, is provided on the top 24 to cooperate with the contiguous edge of the plate to releasably hold it in locking position. The forward end of the base I6 is preferably bent upwardly as indicated at 3|, Fig. 5, and a slot 32 is providedv adjacent the bent end 3|, to receive one hook of the extension device or center catch I4; any standard form of slot or hook may be used at the forward end, to conform with 'the design of the bracelet or wrist watch strap,

or to conform to the wrist watch construction.

If it is desired to provide the cord end with a hook instead of a slot, as for attachment to the watch, the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be used. Referring to these figures, the housing 33 is adapted to receive and lock the cord ends similarly to the construction hereinbefore described. However, the housing 33 is here provided with an integral extending portion 34 which locks around a U-shaped member 35 having a forwardly extending hook 36. A lock slide 31 is bent around the portions 34 and 35 and is slidable thereon. The forward end of the slide 31 is provided with an integral tab 38 which rides over the end of the hook 36 when the slide is moved forwardly and locks the hook. The top of the portion 34 is provided with a button 3 9 for releasably retaining the slide 31 in locking position, and the slide is slotted, as at.4|l, to provide a finger engagement for opening and closing.

My novel invention thus includes a housing to receive the oord strap or bracelet ends, a locking top closing the housing and being retained in place by a slidable locking plate, the ends being doubly gripped by coating prongs and a cam edge, whereby a safety lock end connection is provided. All the parts are preferably stamped from sheet metal, whereby the cost of manufacture is lowered.

While I have described a specific constructional embodiment of my invention, it is evident that changes in the materials used, in the size and shape of the parts, in the strap end engaging elements, and in the means provided for a safety lock for preventing accidental or inadvertent release of the locking top, may be made to suit the requirements for different bracelets and Wrist Watch strap designs, Without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an end connection, a housing having side Walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said side walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof, and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engagea'ble with said retainer lugs, said locking means including a plate having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs.

2. In an end connection, a housing having side walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said side Walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof,

and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engageable with said retainer lugs, said locking means including a plate having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs, said housing having a lock element for releasably retaining said plate element in locking position.

3. In an end connection, a housing having side Walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said side Walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof, and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engageable with said retainer lugs, said locking means including a plate having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs, said housing having a locl; button engageable with the plate end for releasably retaining said plate element in locking position.

4. In an end connection, a housing having side Walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said side walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof, and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engageable With said retainer lugs, said top being of reduced Width to clear said lugs, and said locking means including a plate slidably mounted on said top and having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs.

5. In an end connection, a housing having side walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said Side Walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof, and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engageable with said retainer lugs, said locking means including a plate having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs, said plate having linger engageable means.

6. In an end connection, a housing having side Walls, a top hingedly mounted in said Walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strap gripping parts, said side Walls having retainer lugs at the other end there-V of, and locking means slidably mounted over said top and engageable with said retainer lugs, said top being of reduced Width to clear said lugs, and said locking means including a plate slidably mounted on said top and having edge portions adapted to removably seat under said lugs, said plate having finger engageable means.

'7. In an end connection, a housing having side Walls, a top hingedly mounted in said walls at one end thereof, said housing and said top having cooperating strapgripping parts, said side Walls having retainer lugs at the other end thereof, and locking means slidable over said top and engageable with said retainer lugs to lock said top in strap gripping position.

SVEN O. MYRBERG. 

